To tell sixty years of Italian history leafing through the pages of one of the institutions of the Italian press: the Espresso. The weekly celebrates its sixtieth birthday this year by publishing twelve volumes that tell the story of the newspaper and of Italy told through its pages.
As writes theformer director of Espresso Bruno Manfellotto, who oversaw the work, "we decided to build the twelve volumes which, for twelve weeks, accompany the release of the newspaper on newsstands every Friday: not a simple anthology of articles, but twelve great seasons of the country and the world" .
L'Espresso, historic weekly founded by Eugenio Scalfari and Arrigo Benedetti, saw the light in October 1955. When it lands on newsstands, Espresso imposes itself as a totally new reality: it boasts an attention never seen before for photography, the art of telling with images as well as with words; sees the birth of investigative journalism and cultivates a taste for political backstories. Now the Espresso celebrates its sixtieth birthday offering the reader the opportunity to retrace step by step the evolution of Italian society, changes in customs, cultural trends and political events. Which unfortunately sixty years ago like today, do not always represent the best side of Italy. The title remains unforgettable for Espresso readers: “Corrupted capital=infected nation” an investigation of Manlio Cancogni which told of the vices of the capital still very current.
The weekly has decided to tell through twelve volumes all the themes and events that have characterized the evolutionary phases of our country. “We started – continues Manfelotto – with the boom years, on newsstands this week, and then will follow changing Italy, revolt of '68, the season of civil rights, years of lead, massacres and mysteries, fall of the wall, mani pulite, the war close to home, the terror, the long one Berlusconi season , big crisis.
Starting tomorrow, Friday March 13th and for twelve weeks consecutive L'Espresso will be released on newsstands accompanied by a volume dedicated to five years of Italian history. The twelve volumes tell the story of the country with articles, photographs and investigative reports published in the newspaper which – concludes Manfellotto – “has never been just a selection of news, but a mirror of a country that wants to change, grow, overcome its contradictions. Yes, it is worth remembering. And celebrate too."
